Suction-dredge



No. 607,237. Patented July 12, 1898. F. H. HEATH.

SUCTION DREDGE.

(Application filed Sept. 11 1897.)

(No Model.)-

15' I I S v Witnesses liwelztmfi' W Frederic/$12: Heat/0 m; Nan-msPETERS co. mom-mum. wnnmoron. vv 0 UNITED STATES FFICEQ' ATENTSUCTlON-DREDG E.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 607,237, dated July 12,1898.

Application filed September 11, 1897. Serial No. 651,366. (No model.)

To (LZZ whom it may concern.-

Be itknown that I, FREDERICK H. HEATH, a citizen of the United States,residing at Ta-. coma, in the county of Pierce and State of Washington,have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Suction-Dredges,of which the following is a specification.

My present invention relates to new and useful improvements insuction-dredges, and has for its object to simplify such apparatus,increase its efficiency, and generally to improve upon the constructionshown and described in my former application for Letters Patent, SerialNo. ($413,070.

With these ends in view this invention consists in the details ofconstruction and combination of elements hereinafter set fortlnand thenspecifically designated by the claims.

In order that those skilled in the art to which this inventionappertains may understand how to make and use the same, the 0011-struction and operation will now be described in detail, referrin to theaccompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which vv Figure 1 is a plan view of a portion of a dredger-boat, thederrick-tower being broken away, so as to more clearly show theturntable and mechanism for operating the same; Fig. 2, a longitudinalsection'of the turn-table and dredger-boat, showing the connectionbetween the suction-pipe and said boat; and Fig. 3, a front view of theapparatus.

In carrying out my invention as here embodied, A represents the frontend of a dredger-boat of any suitable design, having projectingtherefrom the extension B, upon which is secured the circular block 0,and this block has mounted thereon the turntable D, which is of suchsize and shape as to serve as a platform for the support of the variousparts of the mechanism which are to swing in unison with the excavator;and upon the circular edge of the turn-table are a series of gear-teethE, with which the pinion F meshes, said pinion being secured upon ashort shaft with a beveled gear G, and the beveled pinion II, meshingwith this last named gear, imparts motion thereto, whereby theturn-table may be oscillated upon its axis, for the purpose hereinafterset forth. The beveled pinion H is secured upon the shaft I,

which is operated by a suitable reversible motor.

A tower-frame J is mounted upon the dredger-boat and overhangs theturn-table, so that the rod K may be attached thereto, as indicated atL, directly over the vertical axis of the turn-table in order that whenthe latter is oscillated this rod may swing in unison therewith withoutaffecting the tower-frame, and the edge of this rod is to support theouter end of the derrick M, which is mounted upon the turn-table, asclearly shown. This arrangement is for the proper support of the outerend of the dredger-pipe N, as will be hereinafter set forth.

The dredger-pipe is connected to the suction-pipe O by means of aglobe-joint P in order that it may be raised and lowered for determiningthe depth of operation of the excavator, and the pipe 0 in turn isswiveled to the pipe Q by an enlarged joint R, the pipe Q leading to asuitable pump for elevating the material excavated; but as this pumpforms no part of my present invention I have not here shown nor will Idescribethe same, since such a pump is fully set forth in my UnitedStates application, Serial No. 632,920.

Truss-arms S are attached to the hangers T, depending from theturn-table, and so stayed by suitable rods and braces and connected withthe excavator as to'withstand the side strains and thrust brought tobear upon said excavator, thereby completely relieving the dredger-pipeN and its couplings from these strains, and the outer end of thistrusswork is supported by the tackle U, the line of which passes overthe pulley V, depending from the outer end of the derrick, and, ex-

tending rearward, also passes over the pulley ing pinions at their upperends, which mesh with the beveled gears 11, these in turn receivingtheir motion from the nest of gears d.

A short shaft f is journaled in the center of the block 0 and has abeveled gear upon both ends thereof, by which power is transmitted fromthe shaft g to the shaft h and thus to the nest of gears (Z. Thisarrangement permits the free swinging of the excavator while it is beingrevolved, since the power is transmitted from the boat to the center ofthe movement of the turn-table.

From this description it will be seen that an exceedingly simple trussis provided for excavation and that the movements of the excavator areat all times under perfect control of the occupants of the boat withoutthe use of guide-ropes, and this is a decided advantage, since theoperations of the dredge are thereby made more positive and do notrequire the staking of anchors and tackle at considerable distances fromthe excavator for drawing it back and forth, which, under somecircumstances, is next to impossible; but by my present improvement theentire apparatus and its operating mechanism are supported by thedredger-boat, which facilitates the operation thereof and also permitsthe excavator turn-table, a tower-frame carried by the boat and swivellyconnected with the derrick, a suction-pipe carried by the boat, adredgerpipe flexibly connected therewith, an excavator carried by theouter end of the dredgerpipe, a truss-frame attached to the turn-tablefor assisting the strains transmitted to the excavator, and suitabletackle carried by the derrick for supporting the outer end of thedredger-pipe, substantially as shown and described.

3. In combination with a dredger-boat of the character described, aturn-table mounted upon an extension thereof, a derrick carried by saidtable, a tower carried by the boat and swivelly connected by means of arod to said derrick, and a dredging apparatus, the outer end of which issupported by suitable tackle passing over the derrick, substantially asand for the purpose set forth.

4. In combination with a dredger-boat, and an excavating apparatusswivelly connected therewith, a turn-table mounted upon an extension ofthe boat, a derrick carried by said turn-table, a tower-frame swivellyconnected with said derrick, a tackle supported by the tackle,substantially as shown and described. 75

5. In combination with a dredger-boat of the character described, aturn-table mountbeing swung through a greater are.

Having thus fully described this invention, what I claim as new anduseful is 1. In combination with a dredging-boat, a

suction-pipe flexibly connected therewith, a j

; connected with the first-named pipe, an excavator carried by the outerend of the jdredger-pipe, and a truss-frame pivoted to lthe turn-tableand adapted to assist the 1 strains brought to bear upon the excavator,as specified.

turn-table mounted on said boat, an operating-shaft run through thepivotal connection of said turn-table, a bevel-gear carried by saidshaft, an excavator rotatably mounted in the end of said pipe, means foroperating said excavator from said gear, and a derrick on saidturn-table for supporting the outer I fixed my signature in the presenceof two subscribing witnesses.

end of said pipe, substantially as shown and described.

2. A dredge, consisting of a dredger-boat,

an extension carried thereby, a turn-table I mounted upon saidextension, means for 0s- 1 ed upon an extension thereof, a suction-pipecarried by said boat, a dredger-pipe flexibly In testimony whereof Ihave hereunto af- FREDERICK II. I-IEATII. Vitnesses:

S. S. WILLIAMsON, IL K. Moons.

